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Chapter 15 - A Special Invitation

December, 1421 S.R.

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"Merry, the post arrived.  You're not going to believe this."

Merry looked up from his second breakfast to find Pippin entering the kitching and carrying some envelopes, one of them rather large.

"What is it?" Merry asked, eyeing the oversized envelope curiously.

Setting the other letters down on the table, Pippin replied, "I'm not sure.  But the seal is of the White Tree of Gondor.  I think it's either from Strider or Faramir."

Merry immediately sat up straight.  "Well, open it, then!" he said excitedly.

Pippin did so, and after skimming the letter, said, "It's from Faramir, and Lady Éowyn!"  Clearing his throat slightly, he read aloud, "'To Peregrin Took, soldier of Gondor, and Meriadoc Brandybuck, Holdwine of the Mark'."

"Sounds rather official," Merry commented, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride welling up in his chest at the title that the king of Rohan had granted him.

Pippin shrugged and continued.  "'Many long months have passed since our parting, but our thoughts are with you still, and we hope this letter finds you both well.  We are writing to announce a very special event - the birth of our first child, which we expect to take place - if this letter reaches you by December - in approximately three months.  Though we are aware that it would be very difficult for you to travel here, we would like to invite you to visit Gondor to see the babe when he, or she, arrives.  We would be honored to have such renowed soldiers and such dear friends in our home.  And the King and Queen, as well as Legolas and Gimli, who have come to Gondor with some of their kin, also send their greetings.

"'Even if you cannot be our guests in Ithilien, we eagerly await hearing from you, and we pray all is well with you and your merry folk.

"'Signed:  Faramir, Prince of Ithilien and Steward of Gondor, and Éowyn, Princess of Ithilien and Shieldmaiden of Rohan.'"

Merry's face broke into a wide grin.  "Well, that's splendid!"

Returning the grin, Pippin said, "Indeed!  So what do you think?  Shall we take up this invitation to visit our old friends?"

"When the invitation comes from such prestigious folk, how can we possibly refuse?"

But even as he spoke this, an upsetting feeling began to develop in the pit of Merry's stomach, and it was only after he spoke that he realized why...

"I wonder how I'm going to break this to Estella," he muttered, his previous elation evaporating at the thought.

"Oh, right, Estella," Pippin said awkwardly.  "Well... maybe we could take her with us!  After all, it would be lovely to travel with a lass who has such impecable cooking skills."

Merry couldn't help but smile at this.  Over the past few months, he had made a great effort to have Pippin and Estella get to know each other better, hoping that the two most important people in his life would become friends.  And Merry had been delighted to find his plan had succeeded, especially after Estella had made a wonderful dinner at Crickhollow that had managed to sufficiently fill a Took and a Brandybuck.

"Yes, it would be wonderful if she could come with us," Merry said.  He lowered his voice.  "But Pippin, how can we be sure the road will be an entirely safe one?  You and I both know that just because Sauron is dead doesn't mean all of his dark folk are.  I would hate to bring Estella into any sort of danger."

"I suppose you're right," Pippin said with a sigh.  "Does this mean I will be traveling to Ithilien by myself?"

Merry needed only a second to consider.  "No.  I suppose I shall just have to hope that Estella will wait for me."

Silence reigned for a moment before Pippin suddenly leaned forward, staring hard at his cousin.  "Something has been bothering you lately, hasn't it?"  When Merry didn't reply, Pippin went on.  "And it has something to do with Estella, doesn't it?"

Sighing deeply, Merry finally spoke.  "Yes."  His brow was furrowed with thought when he spoke again.  "Pippin, I need your opinion on something rather important..."

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The following afternoon, Merry and Pippin came to Bag End to discuss Faramir and Éowyn's letter with Sam, who had also received a similar letter.

"They congratulated Rose and me on the birth of our daughter, and said they doubted I would want to travel all the way to Gondor while I had a babe to tend to, and I must admit they assumed correctly," Sam said to his friends.  "But it was quite nice to hear from them again.  A very fair-spoken couple those two are."

"You came at just the right time," Rosie said to Merry.  "Estella arrived not to long ago."

Merry had the sneaking suspicion that his eyes had greatly lit up at this statement.  "Where is she?"

"In Elanor's bedroom.  They've been getting along wonderfully, Estella is excellent with children."  There was a mischevious twinkle in Rosie's eyes as she said this, and Merry couldn't help but blush.

"Merry, you can go talk to Estella while I show Sam and Rosie the letter," Pippin said.

Ah, Pippin, what would I do without you?  Merry was grateful to his cousin for allowing him to have some time with Estella so that he could explain things to her.  "Thank you, Pippin," he said, putting as much emphasis as possible into the words.

A moment later, Merry slowly opened the door to Elanor's bedroom.  Inside, he saw the golden-haired babe resting in Estella's lap; both looked quite content.

"Estella is excellent with children."

As Merry watched from the doorway, he saw the proof in Rosie's words.  Using her most soothing voice, Estella spoke softly and encouragingly to Elanor as the little girl worked with her wooden blocks, praising even the babe's most simple and unappealing constructions.

Resting her chin on Elanor's golden head, Estella slowly looked up and met Merry's gaze, and he was struck by how perfect the scene before him was.  This hobbit lass that he loved so dearly, holding a beautiful babe in her lap...

Merry was nearing his fourtieth year, and though that wasn't particularly old by hobbit standards, it also meant that he wasn't exactly young anymore.  He was beginning to long for another element to enter into his life - family.  Children.  A wife.

Estella smiled at him gently.  "Are you just going to stand there and stare at me all day?"

"I'd like to," he replied softly.  He walked over and sat down next to Estella, giving Elanor an affectionate pat on the head.

"She's such a sweet lass, barely gives her parents any trouble at all," Estella remarked fondly as she watched Elanor carefully push two blocks together.  "And she's very bright.  She even started talking last week."

Merry raised his eyebrows.  "Really?" he said as he tickled Elanor's neck, yielding a shy giggle from the girl.  "After only nine months?"

Estella nodded.  "Most babes usually don't start talking until after twelve months, but some, like Ellie, have been known to speak as early as nine months."

"Now where did you learn so much about children?"

"I have many young cousins who visit quite often," she replied with a smile.  "I have no choice but to know a thing or two about children."

As he looked at her in that moment, there was so much Merry wanted to tell Estella, had he been able to form the words.  But there was something else he needed to get off of his chest before he could say what he really wanted to say.

Taking a deep breath, Merry said, "Estella, the reason Pippin and I are here is because we received a letter yesterday from two friends of ours in Gondor - Éowyn and Faramir."

"Ah yes, I remember you telling me about them," said Estella.  "Éowyn is the shieldmaiden who fell in love with the Steward of the City.  She's the lady you compared me to once."

"And I stand by what I said then."  As he spoke, Merry saw that Elanor had finished playing with her blocks and was currently stretching out her chubby arms towards him, a pleading look in her honey-brown eyes.  He picked the babe up and carefully set her in his lap, where she curled up contentedly.  "Though perhaps you're not as tall as Éowyn, you're certainly as bold of heart as she is, and just as pleasing to the eye, if I may say so."

Estella smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.  "You may certainly say so.  Now tell me about this letter they sent you."

"They were writing to announce the birth of their first child and to invite Pippin and me to Ithilien.  Pippin and I have decided to take them up on the invitiation."  Merry held his breath.

"Well, that's wonderful!" Estella said.

Merry slowly let out the breath he had been holding.  "You don't mind, then?"

"Of course not.  After all, it's not as though you'll be staying there for a year."  She looked up at him.  "You won't be staying for a year, will you?"

Merry chuckled uneasily.  "No, of course not."

"Then I don't mind.  How long will you be gone?"

It was time for the part Merry had been dreading.  "Well, Pippin and I sat down and thought it out, and we think a journey from the Shire to Gondor, on ponies, will take around four and a half months."

He felt Estella stiffen beside him.  "F- four and a half months?  One way?"

He nodded.  "And we will probably stay in Gondor for at least one month."

"So that's... ten months total..."  Estella slowly got to her feet.  "That's a lot longer than I thought it would be."

Merry stood and placed a now-sleeping Elanor into her cradle.  "I know.  But I'm sure you'll find a way to occupy yourself while I'm gone."  He turned to smiled weakly at Estella and found her standing with her arms folded, her lips pursed, and her gaze fixed on the floor.  Merry winced slightly; he had known Estella long enough to recognize when she was supressing an angry outburst.

"I'm sorry.  I wish there was some way you could come with us, but there's no guarantee that the road will be safe, and I don't want to lead you into any potentially dangerous situation."

"I understand," she said without looking at him.  "I would be a burden."

He walked up to her.  "No, not a burden, never a burden.  It's just that--"

"Oh, no, it's all right.  After all, I'm only a naïve little Shire lass who knows nothing about the outside world."

Merry's frustration finally got the best of him.  "That may very well be true, considering you seemed to think that a journey to Gondor was a simple walking party!"

Estella looked up at him sharply.  "I beg your pardon?"

Merry's desire to protect Estella had somehow turned into frustration when she would not heed his words.  "You have absolutely no idea as to what could be out there, Estella, no idea at all!  Wargs, goblins, and who knows what else!  Do you honestly think you could handle that?  What sort of world do you think exists outside the Shire?  Or have you even given thought to that?"  When he saw the look of fury on her face, Merry spoke again.  "Oh, so it's all right for you to be upset with me, but it's not all right for me to return the sentiments?"

Her fists clenched at her sides, Estella shot back, "Are you calling me a hypocrite?"

Lifting his hands in front of him, Merry replied dryly, "Why no, of course not!"  But even as he said this, a voice in the back of his mind was yelling, Be quiet, you fool!

Estella was positively shaking with rage.  "Meriadoc Brandybuck, you are absolutely insufferable."  And with that, she whirled around and walked quickly out of the room.

Part of Merry wanted to run after her, but the other was too busy fuming.  It was only after several minutes of angry pacing that he realized what his words had implied to Estella.  What sort of world do you think exists outside the Shire?  Or have you even given thought to that?

He had practically called her a naïve little Shire lass.

Merry groaned and put his head in his hands.

Moments later, he emerged from Elanor's room, dragging his feet as though they were made of iron.  Pippin slowly approached him, a look of pity on his face.

"I take it things didn't go very well," he said.

"Not particularly," Merry responded miserably.

"Did you ask her...?"

"No, I never got the chance."  Merry sighed.  "I am such a fool."

Pippin watched him awkwardly for a moment.  "Well... what do you think you're going to do now?"

"I think I'm going to get some ale," Merry muttered.  "A ridiculous amount of ale."

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